“NOWHERE TO HIDE FOR COUNTIES’ BURGLARS”

This was the theme for Operation Nemesis, launched by Chief Constable Alex Marshall at the beginning of January. It has been a campaign targeting burglars operating in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

At the launch, Mr Marshall said: “We know that burglary is a horrible crime, which has a significant impact on the victim and a financial impact on individuals and companies.

“In addition to preventing and solving burglaries, we need to build more confidence in the Police, especially with rural communities and small businesses. In some cases a commercial theft can put the victim out of business.

“We must ensure that all burglary victims are visited by the Police.

During the campaign. Known burglars have been targeted and intelligence gathered to identify burglars and their associates.

By the end of February a total of 567 suspected burglars had been arrested. Almost a quarter of those arrested had been charged.

At the end of the three month operation, results will be analysed. Those tactics which were effective will be adopted to maintain the battle against burglary.

The following advice to householders is worth repeating-

Lock up! Analysis shows a high proportion of properties burgled were insecure. Secure doors and windows, even if someone is at home.

Don’t make it easy for burglars! Do not leave sets of keys, wallets or purses and valuable items near windows and doors or in obvious locations such as the kitchen work surface or hall table.

Sheds and outhouses. Lock and alarm them (see separate article). Tools stolen from these can be used to break into the house.

Report suspicious activity to Police immediately and make use of crime prevention information which is available.
Find out how secure your home is; try the Home Security Challenge survey—see next column.

WARNING OF BOGUS CHARITY COLLECTION

Hampshire Trading Standards officers are investigating complaints from concerned residents who have received bags and leaflets through their door asking them to donate unwanted goods to a charity called ‘Heartbeat UK’.

The leaflets give the false impression that items are being sought for charitable means by a company called 500 Ton Ltd. Heartbeat UK is a genuine charity providing lifesaving equipment to emergency services and hospitals and is in no way connected to 500 Ton Ltd.

Residents are urged not to leave out any goods for collection in response to these leaflets, where the items collected may be sold on for profit. Only donate goods to charities they know and trust, or give unwanted clothing to their local charity shop.

Anyone who has suspicions regarding the authenticity of a clothing collection claiming to be for charitable purposes can call Hampshire County Council Trading Standards through Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

WARNING ABOUT MOBILE PHONE CONTACTS

A lady had her handbag, with her mobile phone, credit cards and purse stolen. Twenty minutes later she called her husband, from a pay phone, telling him what had happened. Her husband said, 'I received your text asking about our pin number and I replied a little while ago.' When they rushed to the bank, staff told them all their money had already been withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen mobile to text her husband in the contact list to get got hold of the pin number. Within twenty minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Be careful not to disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Mom, Dad, etc.

Moral of the story; when sensitive information is being asked for through texts, CONFIRM by calling back. This also applies when you are being texted by ‘friends or family’ about going places to meet them.

HOME SECURITY CHALLENGE

Try this self check survey, to see how secure your home is.
Download from—
http://www.neighbourhood.watch.alresford.org/challenge.doc

Paper copies are available in the library and at the Police Station front counter. If you have any security concerns speak to Jim Ingram, the Crime prevention Officer on 01962 871282 or james.ingram@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

SHEDS

These often contain valuable items both attractive and useful to burglars. As well as locking the shed, a deterrent alarm is a worthwhile investment.

RURAL NEWS

We are very grateful to Jim Lovelock of Bramdean and Di Bye of Kilmeston for many years service to Neighbourhood Watch. We now welcome new Co-ordinators -

Robin Disney - Bramdean 771837
Ben Grantham - Kilmeston 771426

We also welcome Roy Wyeth as our new Co-ordinator for Old Alresford. If you have any security concerns please contact Roy on 732298, The best time to talk to him is around 5.00 pm. We feel that a village the size of Old Alresford would be better served with more than one Co-ordinator, so if you live in Kiln Lane or the Brook areas and feel you would be prepared to be the point of contact for your area, please do contact Roy. There are few duties, as Newsletters are delivered with the Village Voice!

So far, no one has volunteered to become Co-ordinator for Tichborne. It is essential that we identify someone, or residents will forfeit their entitlement to the discount on their household insurance. Please contact David Pain 771008.

FED UP WITH UNWANTED CALLS?

The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is the central opt out register on which you can record your preference not to receive unsolicited sales and marketing telephone calls to your home or mobile telephone numbers. It is a legal requirement that all organisations (including charities, voluntary organisations and political parties) do not make such calls to numbers registered on the TPS unless they have your consent to do so.

ANNUAL REMINDER!

Never leave anything on display when you park your car at local beauty spots. Do not put valuables in the glove box, under the seat, or in the boot. Thieves know the hiding places. Take them with you, or leave them at home.

Car Safe laminated cards, that announce you have left nothing of value in your car are available from the Police station.

Constabulary Column

from
Alresford's Beat Officer Ben Stoneleyr

I would first like to start by saying hello! I was posted to take on the Alresford beat in September 2008 and some of you may have seen me out and about around that time. Unfortunately, soon after I suffered some pretty severe injuries to my left arm and have been rehabilitating since. Hopefully, I will soon be back on full duties and look forward to getting back out there and try to make a positive contribution in Alresford. Thank you to PC Clive Barham who came over at short notice to ‘baby sit’ the beat.

A bit about me. I have been in the Hampshire police for 14 years and all those years I have been a response officer; the last 10 as a high performance driver. I am married and have two small girls. My main hobby is cycling, (road and time trials) and also walking. I have just taken delivery of a new police bike and so you will hopefully see me pedalling around. Please feel free to stop me to speak, (once I have my breath back) or -

Many of you will have got to know PCSO Mel Panter and will be sad to know that she has now moved on from Alresford. After training as a full time Police officer, she will be posted to Basingstoke. Her place here, will be taken by PCSO Steve Hull, once he has completed his training.

GARDEN ORNAMENTS

Garden ornaments have been targeted in some areas recently. The best advice is that if the item is valuable, then photograph it and scratch identification details on the base,(postcode and house name/number).